Portable terminal with rotatable axial flip unit and dual lens arrangement

ABSTRACT

This portable terminal comprises a main unit having a microphone, a key operation unit, and a radio sending/receiving function of image and sound, a rotation axial unit having a video camera and an operation dial, an image display unit with a touch panel capable of displaying an image taken by the video camera, a received image and a screen for input operation, and a flip unit having the image display unit, a CCD camera, a speaker and an operation button. The rotation axial unit further includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting the main unit and the flip unit in a mutually rotatable way and a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of rotating the flip unit across the above rotation in the horizontal direction, and when the flip unit is opened and rotated across, it is used as a video camera with a monitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/733,984 filed Dec. 12,2000 now U.S. Pat No. 7,084,919. The entire disclosure(s) of the priorapplication(s), application No.(s) 09/733,984 is hereby incorporated byreference.

The present invention relates to a portable terminal, and moreparticularly to a small-sized portable terminal for compactly realizingvarious functions of a telephone, a TV telephone, a digital camera, adigital video camera, a pen input terminal and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portable terminal is a small-sized device having a processing functionof communication, image and information, convenient to carry andexcellent in portability.

As the conventional portable terminal widely used in the public, thereare communication terminals and information terminals of, for example, aportable telephone, a PHS, a TV telephone, a digital camera, a digitalvideo camera, and a pen input system.

Recently, a portable terminal provided with some of these functions hasmade an appearance. In this method, since some functions are provided inone device, it is not necessary to carry several kinds of portableterminals and the portability that is the aim of a portable terminal isimproved.

Further, since many units and functions are commonly required in aplurality of portable terminals, when a plurality of functions areprovided in one terminal, the common units can be shared and theterminal can be provided with a plurality of functions without losingthe characteristic of a light and small portable terminal.

Thus, if a portable terminal provided with a plurality of functions iscompared with the method of having individual portable terminals ofvarious functions, it is effective in decreasing the power consumptionwith superiority in the maintenance and portability, and furtherdecreasing the manufacturing cost and the purchase price since thecommon unit can be shared.

As an example of the conventional portable terminal with a plurality offunctions, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent PublicationLaid-Open (Kokai) No. Heisei 06-292195, where a portable terminal,provided with a liquid crystal monitor, a CCD camera, a speaker and acommunication function, for realizing functions of a portable telephoneand a portable TV telephone is proposed.

A portable TV telephone by the conventional portable terminal includinga portable terminal of the Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai)No. Heisei 06-292195 generally adopts a form of setting a CCD cameraadjacent to a liquid crystal monitor on the same surface of the liquidcrystal monitor of the portable terminal.

Thus, while a user watches a received image displayed on the liquidcrystal monitor, the CCD camera set adjacent to the liquid crystalmonitor can take an image of the own face to send the same image to acommunication party, thereby realizing a function of a portable TVtelephone.

Further, a lot of the conventional portable terminals, including theportable terminal of the Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open (Kokai)No. Heisei 06-292195, adopt a method of providing with a flip unit ofthe same area as (or a little less than) that of the main unit itself ofthe portable terminal and connecting both the flip unit and the mainunit by a movable axial unit in a way of opening and shutting like ashell. In this case, since the main unit of the portable terminal issupported by hand, generally operation buttons are mainly provided onthe main unit and a liquid crystal monitor is provided on the flip unit.

In this form, when the flip unit and the main unit are closed, there isa space in no contact with the outward, inside both the units, where theliquid crystal monitor and various operation buttons can be disposed.Therefore, by closing it in compact at a time of no use, it is possibleto prevent damage to the liquid crystal monitor and a malfunction of theoperation buttons, thereby realizing excellent portability.

The conventional portable terminal as mentioned above has the followingproblems.

First, though there are a lot of advantages in adopting the method ofproviding one portable terminal with a plurality of functions such as atelephone, a TV telephone, a digital camera, a digital video camera, apen input terminal and the like, the conventional portable terminal cancombine only two or three functions. Especially, it is impossible torealize a portable terminal capable of combining all the above-mentionedfunctions.

This is because if a plurality of functions are provided within onesmall and light portable terminal, the circuitry and structure of adevice becomes too complicated and the operational performance is toodeteriorated to solve faults.

Second, though a use of sending various images such as scenes andsubstances from a visiting place is required as a function of a portableTV telephone, making good use of the portability of the portableterminal, a portable TV telephone by the conventional portable terminalis very inconvenient for picking up an image other than a user's ownface.

This is because only one CCD camera is provided adjacent to a liquidcrystal monitor on the same surface of the liquid crystal monitor of themain unit in the conventional portable terminal. In order to pick up animage other than a user's own face such as a scene nearby, it isnecessary to change the direction of a photographic lens.

If the direction is changed, a user cannot see the display on the liquidcrystal monitor. Since the focus of the above-mentioned CCD camera isset at a position near the lens suitable for picking up a face image, inorder to pick up a scene nearby, a liquid monitor is necessarilyreferred to, so as to adjust the focus of the lens.

Third, in the above-mentioned conventional portable terminal where aflip unit is connected to a main unit in a movable way, the main unitand the flip unit are desired to be directed toward the suitabledirection for executing various functions, in executing variousfunctions of the portable terminal such as a telephone, a TV telephone,a digital camera, a digital video camera, a pen input terminal and thelike. The conventional portable terminal, however, can operate only in away of opening and closing the flip unit and the main unit, and itcannot be adjusted in the other directions flexibly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above conventional problems, a first object of thepresent invention is to provide a portable terminal having a portable TVtelephone, a digital video camera, and a digital still camera, withoutdamaging the portability. Further, it is to provide a portable terminalprovided with a touch panel capable of writing with a pen, and providedwith full functions as for the data communication as well as the TVtelephone.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, a second object ofthe present invention is to provide a portable terminal provided with afunction of a portable TV telephone capable of easily sending an imagesuch as a scene nearby seen from the side of a user, to a communicationparty.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, a third object of thepresent invention is to provide a portable terminal capable of changingthe direction of main unit and the flip unit to the suitable directionfor executing the respective functions flexibly.

According to one aspect of the invention, a portable terminal formed byconnecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen by arotatable axial unit, comprises

a first photographic lens housed in the axial unit in the longitudinaldirection, and

a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on theflip unit.

In the preferred construction, the flip unit has the second photographiclens on the side of the monitor screen, and

the axial unit has a structure of closing both the units making insidesurface of the main unit into contact with inside surface of the flipunit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an axial unit state sensor for detecting angle or positionalrelationship of the flip unit and the main unit, according to the angleof a movable portion of the axial unit, and

a means for selecting and executing each function predetermined based onthe angle or relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected bythe axial unit state sensor, from various usable functions provided inthe portable terminal.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on the inside of the main unit,

a speaker on the inside of the flip unit,

a communication unit for sound communication, and

a means for putting a communication function through a wirelesscommunication line into an executable state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of theflip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on one surface of the main unit,

a speaker on the outside of the flip unit,

a communication unit for sound communication, and

a means for putting a communication function through a wirelesscommunication line into an executable state

when the surface having the microphone on the main unit and the outsidesurface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on the inside of the main unit,

the communication unit

including a communication means of an image, and

a means for putting a communication function of a TV telephone through awireless communication line into an executable state

when the surface having the microphone on the main unit and the insidesurface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an information processing unit for processing input information andinstruction,

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel, and

a means for putting a function of an information terminal for processingthe input information and instruction upon receipt of the input from thetouch panel, into an executable state

when the outside surface of the flip unit and one surface of the mainunit are closed in contact with each other.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a storing means for storing electronic data,

a means for converting a static image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data, and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital camera into anexecutable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct thefirst photographic lens and the second photographic lens in an inversedirection.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for converting a moving image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data, and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital video camerainto an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct thefirst photographic lens and the second photographic lens in an inversedirection.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for stopping a predetermined function to be finished, of thefunctions under activation, after judging that the function is in unusedstate

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of theflip unit are closed in contact with each other.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises a storing means for storing electronic data.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for converting a static image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken static image in the storingmeans as a digital camera.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for converting a moving image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in the storingmeans as a digital video camera.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a communication unit for image and sound communication, and

a means for transmitting images taken by the first photographic lens andthe second photographic lens through the communication unit.

In another preferred construction, the main unit is provided with themicrophone,

the flip unit is provided with the speaker, and

communication through a wireless communication line is performed by thecommunication unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a mans for displaying the image received by the communication unit onthe monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by the communicationunit through the speaker, and transmitting the images taken by the firstphotographic lens and the second photographic lens and the soundsupplied to the microphone, to a communication party, in which

communication by a TV telephone is performed by the communication unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an information processing unit for processing input information andinstruction,

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel, and

a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing theinput information and instruction.

In another preferred construction, input with an input pen on themonitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayedon the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switchedaccording to the specification by the operation button.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for displaying an image taken by the first photographic lens onthe monitor screen,

a means for displaying an image taken by the second photographic lens onthe monitor screen, and

a means for displaying the image taken by the first photographic lensand the image taken by the second photographic lens simultaneously onthe monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switchedaccording to the specification by the operation button.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signalsthrough connection to an outward information device, in which

bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward informationdevice through the input/output unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving asound signal.

In another preferred construction, the axial unit connects a centralportion of one side of the flip unit to a central portion of one side ofthe main unit in a movable way, and

includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting both the flip unit andthe main unit in a way of freely opening and closing around theconnected one side, and

a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of freely rotatingacross around the opening/shutting axis.

According to another aspect of the invention, a portable terminal formedby connecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen by arotatable axial unit, comprises

a first photographic lens in the vicinity of the axial unit, and

a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on theflip unit.

In the preferred construction, the flip unit has the second photographiclens on the side of the monitor screen, and the axial unit has astructure of closing both the units making inside surface of the mainunit into contact with inside surface of the flip unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an axial unit state sensor for detecting angle or positionalrelationship of the flip unit and the main unit, according to the angleof a movable portion of the axial unit, and

a means for selecting and executing each function predetermined based onthe angle or relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected bythe axial unit state sensor, from various usable functions provided inthe portable terminal.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on the inside of the main unit,

a speaker on the inside of the flip unit,

a communication unit for sound communication, and

a means for putting a communication function through a wirelesscommunication line into an executable state

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of theflip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on one surface of the main unit,

a speaker on the outside of the flip unit,

a communication unit for sound communication, and

a means for putting a communication function through a wirelesscommunication line into an executable state

when the surface having the microphone on the main unit and the outsidesurface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a microphone on the inside of the main unit,

the communication unit including a communication means of an image, and

a means for putting a communication function of a TV telephone through awireless communication line into an executable state

when the surface having the microphone on the main unit and the insidesurface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an information processing unit for processing input information andinstruction,

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel, and

a means for putting a function of an information terminal for processingthe input information and instruction upon receipt of the input from thetouch panel, into an executable state

when the outside surface of the flip unit and one surface of the mainunit are closed in contact with each other.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a storing means for storing electronic data,

a means for converting a static image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data, and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital camera into anexecutable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct thefirst photographic lens and the second photographic lens in an inversedirection.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for converting a moving image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data, and

a means for putting a photographic function as a digital video camerainto an executable state

when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct thefirst photographic lens and the second photographic lens in an inversedirection.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for stopping a predetermined function to be finished, of thefunctions under activation, after judging that the function is in unusedstate

when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of theflip unit are closed in contact with each other.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises a storing means for storing electronic data.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises a means for converting a static image taken by the firstphotographic lens and the second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken static image in the storingmeans as a digital video camera.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for converting a moving image taken by the first photographiclens and the second photographic lens into electronic data,

the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in the storingmeans as a digital video camera.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a communication unit for image and sound communication, and

a means for transmitting images taken by the first photographic lens andthe second photographic lens through the communication unit.

In another preferred construction, the main unit is provided with themicrophone,

the flip unit is provided with the speaker, and

communication through a wireless communication line is performed by thecommunication unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a mans for displaying the image received by the communication unit onthe monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by the communicationunit through the speaker, and transmitting the image taken by the firstphotographic lens and the second photographic lens and the soundsupplied to the microphone, to a communication party, in which

communication by a TV telephone is performed by the communication unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an information processing unit for processing input information andinstruction,

the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel, and

a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing theinput information and instruction.

In another preferred construction, input with an input pen on themonitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayedon the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switchedaccording to the specification by the operation button.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

a means for displaying an image taken by the first photographic lens onthe monitor screen,

a means for displaying an image taken by the second photographic lens onthe monitor screen, and

a means for displaying the image taken by the first photographic lensand the image taken by the second photographic lens simultaneously onthe monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which

the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switchedaccording to the specification by the operation button.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises

an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signalsthrough connection to an outward information device, in which

bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward informationdevice through the input/output unit.

In another preferred construction, the portable terminal furthercomprises a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving asound signal.

In another preferred construction,

the axial unit connects a central portion of one side of the flip unitto a central portion of one side of the main unit in a movable way, and

includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting both the flip unit andthe main unit in a way of freely opening and closing around theconnected one side, and

a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of freely rotatingacross around the opening/shutting axis.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear from the detailed description given herebelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not betaken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation andunderstanding only.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the case of using the functions of avideo camera, a digital still camera and a TV telephone in a portableterminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the portable terminal of FIG. 1according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable terminal of FIG. 1according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view from the side of a flip unit, showing the stateof inwardly closing an operation key and a monitor with a touch panel ofthe portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view from the side of a photographic lens, inthe portable terminal of FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the portable terminal of FIG. 4 according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view from the side of the main unit in theportable terminal of FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view from the side of the top in the portable terminalof FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the state of opening the operation key ofthe main unit and the monitor with a touch panel on the flip unit in thesame direction, in the portable terminal according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the state of inwardly closing theoperation key and the monitor with a touch panel in the portableterminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the state of inwardly closing theface of the operation key of the main unit and the face of the liquidcrystal monitor of the flip unit, in the portable terminal according tothe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a front view showing the case of using a function of peninput, in the portable terminal according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of theportable terminal according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for use in describing the processing of theportable terminal according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a front view showing the state of opening the speaker of theflip unit and the operation key of the main unit in the same direction,in the portable terminal according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a front view showing the case of using a function of aportable telephone, in the portable terminal according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be discussedhereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Inthe following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstance, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order tounnecessary obscure the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 12 are views each showing a main unit and a flip unit of aportable terminal according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, which are put in various directions and seen from variousdirections.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 12, in the portable terminal of theembodiment of the present invention, a main unit 10 and a flip unit 20are connected in a movable way through an axial unit 30.

The axial unit 30 is provided with an opening/shutting axis 31 and arotation axis 32 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The opening/shutting axis 31is connected to the portable terminal so that the main unit and the flipunit can be relatively rotatable, and the rotation axis 32 is connectedthere in a rotatable way in the vertical direction across the rotationof the opening/shutting axis 31.

Further, a first photographic lens 33 for a digital camera is providedon one end of the opening/shutting axis 31 and an operation dial 34 isprovided on the other end thereof.

The flip unit 20 is inside provided with a monitor with a touch panel21, an operation button 22 for switching-a screen, a second photographiclens 23 for a TV telephone and a speaker phone 24 as illustrated in FIG.1.

The main unit 10 of the terminal is inside provided with an operationkey 17 for inputting a telephone number, a moving image/static imageswitch 16 for switching the kind of an image to be taken and amicrophone 18 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Further it is provided with astrobe 14 and a button 13 for taking an image on one side thereof asillustrated in FIG. 2, and it is provided with a zoom button 11, a datainput/output terminal 12-2, a dummy plug for data input/output terminal12-3, and a sound input/output terminal 12-1 on the other side thereofas illustrated in FIG. 1.

Further, the main unit 10 is provided with an input pen storing unit 19for storing an input pen 40 used at a time of pen input.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of theportable terminal of this embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 13, the portable terminal of this embodimentcomprises a first photographic lens 33, a second photographic lens 23, amonitor with a touch panel 21, a speaker 24, a microphone 18, anoperation unit 52 for a user performing various operations, a storingunit 53 for storing the taken picture, a communication unit 54 forwireless communication, etc. and an axial unit state sensor 55 forexamining the state of the axial unit 30 to detect the directions of themain unit 10 and the flip unit 20, which are respectively controlled bya control unit 51.

The portable terminal of the embodiment performs various functions of atelephone, a TV telephone, a digital camera, a digital video camera, apen input terminal and the like, by directing the main unit 10 and theflip unit 20 in the suitable direction for the respective functions.

This time, an example of using these functions of the portable terminalof the embodiment in the suitable directions of the main unit 10 and theflip unit 20 for the respective functions will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 4 to 8 are views showing the state of folding the portableterminal of the embodiment when it is not used.

When it is not used, the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 are foldedaround the opening/shutting axis 31 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8. Thetouch panel monitor 21 of the flip unit 20 and the operation key 17 ofthe main unit 10 are thus closed inwardly, with no contact with theoutside, thereby preventing damage to the touch panel monitor 21 and amalfunction of the operation key 17, with excellent portability.

In the case of using it as a TV telephone, the main unit 10 and the flipunit 20 are opened to a position of turning them to an L-shape aroundthe opening/shutting axis 31, and then, the flip unit 20 is turnedacross at 90° in the horizontal direction, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2and 3.

A phone call is made by using the operation key 17 in the same way asthe ordinal portable telephone. Conversation is made through the speakerphone 24. It is also possible to use the portable terminal by connectinga microphone or a headphone to the sound input/output terminal 12-1.

It is possible to operate the operation button 22 at use so to variouslyswitch a screen to be displayed on the touch panel monitor 21.

The screen on the touch panel monitor 21 can show not only an image of acommunication party transmitted through the communication of the TVtelephone, but also an image of a user's own face taken by the secondphotographic lens 23 that is transmitted from the user's side to thecommunication party or an image of scene and substance around the userthat is taken by the first photographic lens 33. Further a form ofdisplaying the above images at once is possible.

More specifically, three kinds of images; a communication party's image,a user's image and an image before the user eyes may be switchedvariously, or combined.

As a form of displaying them, there may be considered a first form ofdisplaying one of these images on the whole screen of the touch panelmonitor 21, a second form of displaying two of them on each half screenof the touch panel monitor 21, a third form of displaying these threeimages on each one-third screen of the touch panel monitor 21, and afourth form of displaying one of them on the whole screen of the touchpanel monitor 21 and further displaying the other (one or two of them)small with it overlapped on the screen as a child screen.

In the fourth displaying form, the display position of the child screenmay be decided in advance, or the display position and the size may bespecified by the input pen 40 on the touch panel monitor 21 and afterdisplay, it can be changed to any desired position and size, or by theoperation of the operation button 22, a desired one may be selected anddisplayed from the predetermined setting of a plurality of displaypositions.

Similarly to the selection of an image to be displayed on the touchpanel monitor 21, an image to transmit to a communication party can bealso selected variously by the operation of the above operation button22.

Although the TV telephone generally transmits a user's own face taken bythe second photographic lens 23 to a communication party, the portableterminal of the present invention can switch the image to transmit to animage of the scene or substance before the user's eyes taken by thefirst photographic lens 33, or transmit the combined image, associatedwith or independently of the selection of the image to be displayed onthe touch panel monitor 21.

As mentioned above, since it is possible to transmit an image includingthe scene before a user's eyes as well as the user's face whileswitching the image at ease, the function of the TV telephone accordingto the portable terminal of the embodiment is very convenient fortransmission of the scene at a visiting place or the like and it is tomake the best use of the portability of a portable terminal.

In the above-mentioned form, although the image of the scene before auser's eyes is transmitted, a form of transmitting only the user's faceis possible. In this case, the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 areonly opened to a position of becoming a shape of L around theopening/shutting axis 31, with no need to rotate across the flip unit 20at 90° in the horizontal direction.

Next, in the case of using it as a digital video camera, it ispreferable to use the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 in the samedirection as in the case of the above-mentioned TV telephone as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3.

A user sets the moving image/static image switch 16 shown in FIG. 9 forthe moving image, thereby deciding on the moving image as for the kindof the image to be taken by the first photographic lens 33. The size ofthe image to be taken is adjusted by using the zoom button 11 withreference to the touch panel monitor 21. Press of the button 13 fortaking an image starts taking and the moving image taken by the firstphotographic lens 33 is converted into electronic data and stored in thestoring unit 53.

The storing unit 53 stores the electronic data of the image into abuilt-in semiconductor memory, which can be read out and reproduced onthe touch panel monitor 21 at any time. When the stored data istransmitted to an outside information processing terminal of a personalcomputer, the dummy plug for data input/output terminal 12-3 isextracted from the data input/output terminal 12-2 shown in FIG. 1 andinstead of it, a connection cable is inserted therein. The other end ofthe connection cable is connected to the information processingterminal, thereby enabling data input/output.

Also it is possible to take an image in the state of fixing the portableterminal to a tripod by use of a tripod fixing hole 15.

Similarly, in the case of using it as a digital still camera, it ispreferable to use the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 in the samedirection as in the above-mentioned TV telephone as shown in FIGS. 1 to3.

A user sets the moving image/static image switch 16 shown in FIG. 9 forthe static image, thereby deciding on the static image as for the kindof the image to be taken by the first photographic lens 33. The size ofthe image to be taken is adjusted by using the zoom button 11 withreference to the touch panel monitor 21. Press of the button 13 fortaking an image starts taking and the static image taken by the firstphotographic lens 33 is converted into electronic data and stored in thestoring unit 53.

In this case, the button 13 for taking an image takes a role of ashutter and by using this button an image is taken. Thus taken image isstored in the storing unit 53 and it can be read out and reproduced anytime.

Also it is possible to take an image in the state of fixing the portableterminal to a tripod by use of a tripod fixing hole 15.

In the case of using it as a pen input terminal, it is used in the stateof closing the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20, making the insidesurface of the main unit 10 into contact with the outside surface of theflip unit 20 as illustrated in FIG. 11. From the ordinary close state asshown in FIG. 10, once opening the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 toany position around the opening/shutting axis 31, only the flip unit isrotated across around the rotation axis 32 at 180° in the horizontaldirection and the flip unit 20 is again combined with the main unit 10around the opening/shutting axis 31, to be shown in the state of FIG.11.

Thus, it becomes possible to input various data and instructions withthe input pen 40 on the touch panel monitor 21 of the flip unit 20 asillustrated in FIG. 12. Since the portable terminal is closed small withthe touch panel monitor 21 fixed outward, it is possible to support theportable terminal by the main unit 10 by hands so as not to wobble thetouch panel monitor 21 at the input time with the input pen 40.

Alternatively, it may be used in the state of closing the both, makingthe outside surface of the main unit 10 into contact with the outsidesurface of the flip unit 20. The main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 areopened around the opening/shutting axis 31 at 360° from the state asshown in FIG. 10, and then the outside of the main unit 10 is combinedwith the outside of the flip unit 20.

In the case of using it as the ordinary portable telephone, the mainunit 10 and the flip unit 20 are opened around the opening/shutting axis31 to any position as illustrated in FIG. 9, thereby enabling thecommunication. A telephone number is input with the operation key 17 inthe same way as in the case of the TV telephone, a voice is suppliedthrough the microphone 18 and the received voice is reproduced by thespeaker 24.

As mentioned above, the portable terminal of the embodiment can realizea lot of functions of a telephone, a TV telephone, a digital camera, adigital video camera, a pen input terminal and the like, in compact.

This time, a portable terminal according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, activation of various functions provided inthe portable terminal of the present invention is controlled dependingon the relative direction of the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20.

When the relative direction of the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20suitable for each function described in the first embodiment is detectedby the axial unit state sensor 55, the corresponding function isactivated or it is ready for activation.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for use in describing the control of theportable terminal of this embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 14, the axial unit state sensor 55 detects therespective angles of the opening/shutting axis 31 and the rotation axis32 of the axial unit 30 in order to recognize the relative direction ofthe main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 (Step 1401).

When the opening/shutting axis 31 is closed (Step 1402) and the rotationaxis 32 has no rotation (namely, the flip unit 20 is directed to thefront direction) (Step 1403), the axial unit state sensor 55 detectsthat the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 are inwardly closed in anunused state at present (Step 1404). Because of the unused state, theprocessing of automatically cutting off the power supply is performed ifnecessary.

When the opening/shutting axis 31 is closed (Step 1402) and thedirection of the rotation axis 32 is rotated at 18020 (namely, the flipunit is directed to the inverse direction) (Step 1403), the axial unitstate sensor 55 detects that the both units are closed by making theinside of the main unit 10 face to face with the outside of the flipunit 20 in a state of using a function of pen input terminal (Step1405).

When the opening/shutting axis 31 is opened (Step 1402), the angle ofthe opening/shutting axis 31 is in the range of 90° to 180°, and therotation axis 32 has no rotation (Step 1406), the sensor 55 detects thatit is the case of using a telephone function (Step 1407).

When the opening/shutting axis 31 is opened (Step 1402), the angle ofthe opening/shutting axis 31 is 90° the rotation axis 32 is rotated at90°, and the first photographic lens 33 and the second photographic lens23 are directed in the inverse direction (Step 1408), it detects that itis the case of using one of the functions of a TV telephone, a digitalvideo camera and a digital still camera (Step 1409). Which function isto be executed can be decided by a user's operation specifying it or apredetermined initial setting.

When it is in none of the above cases (Step 1408), this step is returnedto Step 1401, where the sensor 55 waits for the relative direction ofthe main unit 10 and the flip unit 20 to become the directioncorresponding to one of the functions.

When the current function to be used is recognized in Steps 1405, 1407,1409 and the like, the corresponding function is activated or it isready for activation if necessary in the case where the correspondingfunction is not yet activated. When the other function is underactivation, the recognized function is activated, the function underactivation is finished, and the switching processing for activating thenewly recognized function can be performed.

In addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the portable terminalof this embodiment as mentioned above can perform automatic activationof each function provided in the portable terminal, in accordance withthe relative direction of the main unit 10 and the flip unit 20, therebyactivating or switching various functions at ease.

A portable terminal of a third embodiment of the present invention willbe described.

The portable terminal of the third embodiment of the present inventionis different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in thata second speaker 25 is provided on the opposite side of the speakerphone 24 in the flip unit 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16.Accordingly, in the case of using it as a portable telephone, it can beused with the outside of the flip unit facing to the inside of the mainunit, by turning the flip unit 20 around the rotation axis 32 at 180°.In this case, a user's cheek doesn't come into contact with the touchpanel monitor 21 when using it as the ordinal portable telephone,thereby enabling conversation without dirtying the surface of themonitor.

A combination of the second embodiment and the third embodiment isenabled by replacing Step 1406 with the phrase “the angle of theopening/shutting axis is in the range of 90° to 180° and the rotationaxis is inversely rotated at 180°”.

The other embodiment of the present invention will be described thistime.

A portable terminal provided with some of the functions or less than thefunctions; a telephone, a TV telephone, a digital camera, a digitalvideo camera and a pen input terminal, as described in the aboveembodiments, is possible, other than the portable terminal provided withall the above-mentioned functions.

Further, a portable terminal further provided with a receiving functionof radio waves or TV waves, a beeper function, a navigation system suchas a car navigation and the like is also possible. Also in the case ofproviding with these functions, a lot of units and functions can be usedin common, thereby adding the functions efficiently.

The storing unit 53 may be realized by a drive for storing data into asemiconductor memory or a magnetic memory that is a removable storingmedium, instead of the form of using a built-in semiconductor memory asdescribed in the above embodiments.

In the case of using the built-in semiconductor memory in the storingunit 53, it is possible to perform data exchange to the outwardinformation terminal by the infrared communication, other than the formof using the data input/output terminal 12-2 and the connection cable.

As set forth hereinabove, the present invention has the followingexcellent effects.

As a first effect, in the case of using the portable terminal as a TVtelephone, it is possible to transmit a user's own face and the scene ofthe user's view to a communication party at ease and at once. This isbecause the portable terminal of the present invention is provided withtwo photographic lenses and a switch, thereby to transmit the images atan easy operation.

As a second effect, it is possible to provide a portable terminalcapable of various operations of a moving image, a static image, acharacter mail, a portable telephone and the like. This is because it isprovided with two rotation axes capable of setting any angle, thereby tocope with various uses.

As a third effect, it is possible to transfer the taken image to aninformation processor such as a personal computer at ease or to transferthe image from the personal computer to the side of a portable terminal.This is because it is provided with a data input/output interface,thereby enabling connection to the other device at ease without passingthrough the storing medium such as a memory card.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodies within a scope encompassed andequivalents thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

1. A portable terminal having a monitor screen, comprising: a first photographic lens provided at a predetermined position in an axial unit, a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on the same side with said monitor screen; wherein said first photographic lens takes an image of a different direction from a direction from which said second photographic lens takes an image; and wherein said images taken by said first and second photographic lenses are displayed on said monitor screen.
 2. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a storing means for electronic data.
 3. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a means for converting a static image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data, the portable terminal storing the taken static image in said storing means as a digital camera.
 4. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 3, further comprising: a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data, the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in said storing means as a digital video camera.
 5. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a communication unit for image and sound communication; and a means for transmitting images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens through said communication unit.
 6. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: a microphone, and a speaker, wherein communication through a wireless communication line is performed by said communication unit.
 7. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: a means for displaying the image received by said communication unit on the monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by said communication unit through said speaker, and transmitting the images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and the sound supplied to said microphone, to a communication party, in which communication by a TV telephone is performed by said communication unit.
 8. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction; the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing the input information and instruction.
 9. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 8, in which input with an input pen on the monitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.
 10. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.
 11. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 10, further comprising: a means for displaying an image taken by said first photographic lens on the monitor screen; a means for displaying an image taken by said second photographic lens on the monitor screen; and a means for displaying the image taken by said first photographic lens and the image taken by said second photographic lens simultaneously on the monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.
 12. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signals through connection to an outward information device, in which bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward information device through said input/output unit.
 13. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving a sound signal.
 14. A portable terminal formed by rotatably connecting a main unit and a flip unit having a monitor screen, comprising: a first photographic lens provided at a predetermined position, a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on the same side with said monitor screen; wherein said first photographic lens takes an image of a different direction from a direction from which said second photographic lens takes an image, and wherein said images taken by said first and second photographic lenses are displayed on said monitor screen.
 15. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, in which the flip unit has said second photographic lens on the side of the monitor screen, and the axial unit has a structure of closing both the units making inside surface of the main unit into contact with inside surface of the flip unit.
 16. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: an axial unit state sensor for detecting angle or positional relationship of the flip unit and the main unit, according to the angle of a movable portion of the axial unit; and a means for selecting and executing each function predetermined based on the angle or relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected by said axial unit state sensor, from various usable functions provided in the portable terminal.
 17. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 16, further comprising: a microphone on the inside of the main unit; a speaker on the inside of the flip unit; a communication unit for sound communication; and a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.
 18. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 16, further comprising: a microphone on one surface of the main unit; a speaker on the outside of the flip unit; a communication unit for sound communication; and a means for putting a communication function through a wireless communication line into an executable state when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the outside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.
 19. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 17, further comprising: a microphone on the inside of the main unit; said communication unit including a communication means of an image; and a means for putting a communication function of a TV telephone through a wireless communication line into an executable state when the surface having said microphone on the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are opened in the same direction.
 20. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 16, further comprising: an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction; the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and a means for putting a function of an information terminal for processing the input information and instruction upon receipt of the input from the touch panel, into an executable state when the outside surface of the flip unit and one surface of the main unit are closed in contact with each other.
 21. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 17, further comprising: a storing means for storing electronic data; a means for converting a static image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and a means for putting a photographic function as a digital camera into an executable state when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.
 22. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 21, further comprising: a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data; and a means for putting a photographic function as a digital video camera into an executable state when the main unit and the flip unit are opened so as to direct said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens in an inverse direction.
 23. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 17, further comprising: a means for stopping a predetermined function to be finished, of the functions under activation, after judging that the function is in unused state when the inside surface of the main unit and the inside surface of the flip unit are closed in contact with each other.
 24. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a storing means for storing electronic data.
 25. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 24, further comprising: a means for converting a static image taken by photographic lens into electronic data, the portable terminal storing the taken static-image in said storing means as a digital video camera.
 26. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 25, further comprising: a means for converting a moving image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and said second photographic lens into electronic data, the portable terminal storing the taken moving image in said storing means as a digital video camera.
 27. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a communication unit for image and sound communication; and a means for transmitting images taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens through said communication unit.
 28. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 27, in which the main unit is provided with said microphone, the flip unit is provided with said speaker, and communication through a wireless communication line is performed by said communication unit.
 29. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 28, further comprising: a means for displaying the image received by said communication unit on the monitor screen, reproducing the sound received by said communication unit through said speaker, and transmitting the image taken by said first photographic lens and said second photographic lens and the sound supplied to said microphone, to a communication party, in which communication by a TV telephone is performed by said communication unit.
 30. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: an information processing unit for processing input information and instruction; the monitor screen that is a monitor with a touch panel; and a means for receiving input from the touch panel and processing the input information and instruction.
 31. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 30, in which input with an input pen on the monitor screen that is the touch panel monitor is accepted.
 32. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: an operation button for specifying the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen, to a control unit, in which the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.
 33. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 32, further comprising: a means for displaying an image taken by said first photographic lens on the monitor screen; a means for displaying an image taken by said second photographic lens on the monitor screen; and a means for displaying the image taken by said first photographic lens and the image taken by said second photographic lens simultaneously on the monitor screen at predetermined respective portions, in which the type of an image to be displayed on the monitor screen is switched according to the specification by said operation button.
 34. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: an input/output unit for performing communication by electric signals through connection to an outward information device, in which bidirectional data transfer is performed with the outward information device through said input/output unit.
 35. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a sound input/output terminal for sending and receiving a sound signal.
 36. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, in which the axial unit connects a central portion of one side of the flip unit to a central portion of one side of the main unit in a movable way, and includes an opening/shutting axis for connecting both the flip unit and the main unit in a way of freely opening and closing around the connected one side, and a rotation axis for connecting the flip unit in a way of freely rotating across around said opening/shutting axis.
 37. A portable terminal as set forth in claim 14, further comprising: a plurality of functions for performing are provided, a state sensor for detecting a positional relationship of the flip unit and the main unit, and a means for executing selectively functions beforehand assigned corresponding to at least three positional relationships based on the relationship of the flip unit and the main unit detected by said state sensor.
 38. A portable terminal formed by connecting a main unit and a sub unit having a monitor screen, comprising: a first photographic lens provided at a predetermined position; a second photographic lens provided at a predetermined position on a same side with said monitor screen; wherein said first photographic lens takes an image of a different direction from a direction from which said second photographic lens takes an image, and wherein said images taken by said first and second photographic lens are displayed on said monitor screen. 